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DuVal: Leaving California EV mandate is best for Virginia’s business climate
Last week, following Attorney General Jason Miyares’ opinion, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that Virginia would no longer be subject to California’s onerous electric vehicle mandates when its current regulation expires at the end of 2024. If the second iteration of these costly and burdensome mandates passed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) were to have taken effect in Virginia, all new vehicle purchases by 2035 would have been required to be EVs and 35% of model year 2026 vehicle purchases would as well.
What is in Potomac Yard’s future after dead arena deal?
Months after Virginia’s Wizards and Capitals arena deal died, a big question remains: What’s next for Potomac Yard? It’s a large, valuable chunk of land with close proximity to D.C. and a new $370 million Metro stop that sits in what Alexandria and Arlington are trying to establish as an innovation corridor, thanks to nearby Amazon HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s forthcoming Innovation Campus. Plus, Alexandria needs more commercial growth to diversify its tax base and alleviate the burden placed on homeowners.
$12 million agricultural campus set to rise between Bristol and Abingdon
Rolling green pastures between Bristol and Abingdon are set to evolve over the next few years into an expansive $12 million agriculture campus for Appalachian Sustainable Development. On Thursday afternoon, officials with the nonprofit unveiled their plans for the more than 17 acres of land, which they plan to use as a regional hub that will champion agriculture by teaching people how to grow in more innovative, efficient and profitable ways. The goal is to create new agriculture and food businesses, more efficient and successful farms, a stronger regional workforce, and better access to nutritious food and positive health outcomes, according to ASD officials.
Washington County supervisors approve solar framework regulations
Washington County, Virginia officials on Tuesday approved a revised ordinance governing any future solar operations there. ... The ordinance incorporates state law language which provides “any locality may grant a special exception permit” and include in its zoning ordinance “reasonable regulations and provisions for a special exception for any solar photovoltaic (electric energy) project or energy storage project ... Expanding the solar ordinance comes as a Texas-based company, Catalyst Energy Partners, is seeking a special exception permit from the Washington County Planning Commission.
Godfrey: Decarbonizing Virginia’s economy is feasible and affordable
Reducing the Earth’s atmospheric temperature caused by fossil fuel production is crucial to combat the climate crisis. The U.N. World Meteorological Organization issued a red alert in March, citing alarming increases in greenhouse gasses, land and water temperatures, and the rapid melting of glaciers and sea ice. It emphatically warned that the world’s efforts to reverse the trend have been insufficient. … Currently in Virginia, there are seven active fossil fuel infrastructure projects in development ...
Virginia Hasn’t Backed a Republican for President in Two Decades. Is It About to Flip?
Whether Virginia backs Donald Trump or Joe Biden shouldn’t even be a discussion. The state hasn’t backed a Republican for president since George W. Bush in 2004. But early polls showing Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, cutting into the Democratic president’s lead have served as a wake-up call for Virginia Democrats, who acknowledge headwinds with voters dissatisfied with Biden’s leadership. Republicans say that if Virginia is even remotely on the table for Trump, Biden is in serious trouble in traditional battleground states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Friday Read Potomac River catfish are no match for Ernie the Hog Snatcher
In a secret spot on the banks of the Potomac River, just past Georgetown, a fishing rod has begun to twitch. Then it arcs with the weight of what has become Ernest Robinson’s catchphrase: “Big takedown!” “Oh. Oh my God,” says Robinson, an urban fisherman, as the catch puts up a fight. “This joker is not ready to come.” Everything about Robinson, 34, is big. There’s his social media following: Around half a million people watch him fish on both Instagram and TikTok. … Then there are his big takedowns: big blue catfish, which he pursues year-round in these waters because “catfish is the biggest fish that we’ve got in the Potomac,” he says.
5th District GOP primary draws big names, big money
When the motorcoach wrapped in former President Donald Trump’s likeness and “Take America Back” campaign slogan turned the corner into the parking lot of the Louisa County Office of Elections last Wednesday afternoon, a crowd of about four dozen supporters of Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland County, erupted in cheers. For a brief moment, one could have imagined that Trump himself had come to pay a surprise visit to the county of 40,000 in the eastern part of Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, which political observers consider to be ground zero in one of the most viciously fought GOP primary battles nationwide this year — pitting a Trump-endorsed candidate against the chair of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus who orchestrated last year’s ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
No shortage of opinions on Youngkin’s EV decision
In the week following Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to scrap electric vehicle regulations designed by a California environmental board, there were no shortage of opinions on the topic. “It’s literally dangerous, we are going backward by doing that,” said Arif Sikder, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. “If other states decided to do the same thing, it’s going to cause more danger for public health [and] global warming.” Youngkin unveiled the decision on June 6 at a Chester car dealership, just one day after the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board met. With it, he is reversing guidelines that the General Assembly adopted in 2021.
Cannabist Co. opening 11th Va. dispensary in eastern Henrico
The Cannabist Company will open its 11th Virginia dispensary in eastern Henrico County, the group announced this week. The store will be called Cannabist Richmond and will be available to medically approved patients. Cannabist Richmond will open at 4320 S. Laburnum Ave. in the Laburnum Park shopping center near Interstate 64. “The company’s commitment to patient access, education and community engagement remains at the forefront of its expansion efforts,” said Jesse Channon, its president.